Signal box



F. w. COLE. SIGNAL BOX.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.6, 1914.

1 1 94,600. Patented Aug. 15, 1916.

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F. W. COLE.

SIGNAL BOX.

APPLICATION FILED AUG-6, 1914.

1 1 94,600. V Patented Aug. 15, 1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2- F. W. COLE.

SIGNAL BOX.

. APPLICATION FILED AUG-6, 1914.

1,194,600, Patented Aug. 15,1916.

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FREDERICK W. COLE, OF NEWTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THE GAMEWELL FIRE ALARM TELEGRAPH COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORIDBATION OF NEW YORK.

SIGNAL-BOX.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 15, 1916.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK W. Conn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Newton, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Signal-Boxes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to fire-alarm or similar signal-bo-Xes, and is applicable especially to signaling-mechanisms which are arranged to be wound by a winding-device, usually termed a pull.

The objects of my invention are to provide the signaling-mechanism with Winding and setting-means by which to wind and set it in condition to send its signal, and means arranged to hold the wound and set ting-means in its winding position with the signaling-mechanism set in condition to send its signal upon releasing said winding and setting-means, said holding-means involving a breakable-element, which when broken, releases the winding and setting-means, to permit allow or cause the release of the signaling-mechanism to auto matically send its signal; to arrange the winding and setting-means so that it is readily accessible and may be easily operated, when the box-door is open, to set the signaling-mechanism in condition to send its signal, and to arrange holding-means so as to then hold it set until the box-door is closed and thereafter until such time as the breakable-element is broken; to arrange the winding and setting means so that the door cannot be closed until the signaling-mechanism is properly set; to arrange thebreakable-element on the front of the box-door where it is conspicuous and readily accessi ble and easily renewable while the door 1s leased, thereby to permit the signalingmechamsm to automatically operate and send its signal; to provide a self-opening box-door, the latch of which is associated with the breakable-element, whereby upon breaking said element the latch is moved to allow the door to open automatically; to associate with the self-opening-boX-door the holding-means by which the winding and setting-means is held in position to hold the signaling-mechanism with its signal set, whereby upon breaking the breakableelement which allows the door to open automatically, the winding and setting-means will be released and also the signalingmechanism, to permit or cause the latter to send its signal; to provide a windingmechanism having a winding-device which is movable independently of and with respect to the other component parts thereof, said winding-mechanism being of improved construction and arranged for coiiperation with an improved form of detaining-lever for the signaling-mechanism, the construction and arrangement beingsuch that the windingmechanism holds the detaining-lever in engaging-position while in unwound position and also while it is being operated to wind the signaling-mechanism, and also while the winding-device is being returned independently to unwound position, and is then permitted to move into disengaging position to release the signaling-mechanism and to engage the winding-device and to hold said winding-device while the signal is being sent and then to be returned to engagingposition by the signaling-mechanism at the end of the signal to engage and lock the signaling-mechanism and release the winding-device.

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a signalbox embodying this invention, the pull and holding-means therefor being represented by dotted lines. Fig. 2 is a similar view, the boX-door being open and the windingarm arranged in unwound position, which position it occupies before it is moved to wind and set the signal-mechanism, and again assumes when released to permit the automatic sending of the signal. Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, the winding-arm being in wound position and temporarily held after winding and before the box-door is closed. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal vertical section of a portion of the signal-box showing particularly the self-opening door. Fig. 5 is a front elevation of the signalingmechanism with the winding-arm in unwound position, the holding-means for said arm being omitted, as is sometimes the case. Fig. 6 is a rear elevation, full-size, of the signaling-mechanism, and circuit testing-devices. Fig. 7 is a transverse vertical section of the signaling-mechanism, the rear supporting-plate and parts arranged on the outside thereof being removed, and the winding and setting means being in wound position and the signaling-mechanism set to send its signal. Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 7, the winding and setting-means being in position to allow the signaling-mechanism to be released to send the signal and the winding and setting means locked from rewinding while the signaling-mechanism is released. Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig.7, the winding and setting-means being automatically unlocked after the signal is sent and free to be operated to again rewind the signaling-mechanism. Figs. 10 and 11 are sectional details to be referred to of some of the component parts of the winding-mechanism. Fig. 12 is an enlarged side-elevation of a testing circuit-controller which is arranged in the box.

So far as the construction of the signaling-mechanism is concerned, my invention includes any of the well-known forms of the types herein referred to, but the form here shown, possesses advantages and will be briefly described, and particularly its novel features; yet, so far as certain features of my invention are concerned the construction of the signaling-mechanism is immaterial. The signaling-mechanism here shown comprises a signal-wheel 2, and a pair of coop: erating contact-members 3, 4, for controlling a signal-circuit, a shaft 5 bearing said signal-wheel, and a train of gearing for imparting to said shaft one or more rotations. The train here shown consists of an actuating-spring 10, its outer end being secured to the frame and its inner end secured to a sleeve 12, which is secured to a shaft 13, said shaft bearing a ratchet-wheel 14, which engages a pawl 15, held pressed into engagement with it by a spring, said pawl being pivotally arranged on the side of a toothedgear 16, loosely mounted on the shaft between the ratchet-wheel and the sleeve 12, and said toothed-gear 16 engages a pinion 17, secured to the shaft 5, carrying the signal or box-number wheel 2, and said shaft 5 has secured to it a toothed-gear 18, which engages a pinion 19, secured to a shaft 20, and said shaft 20 bears a toothed-gear 21, which engages a pinion 22 on the shaft 23, and said shaft 23 carries the escape-wheel 24,

which is engaged by a suitable controlling pallet 25. A detaining-lever 26 is provided for the train, which is pivotally supported at 27, one end of said lever being arranged for engagement with the shoulder of a snail-cam 28, secured to the shaft 5, and its other end having attached to it a spring 29, by which said lever is moved in a direction to disengage the snail-cam. Said lever is held in engagement with the snail-cam by a component part of the winding-mechanism, as will be hereinafter described. Said detaining-lever, when in engaging position, holds the train, and particularly the signalwheel 2, in a predetermined position, and when moved into disengaging position, releases the train, and said lever is subsequently returned at the proper time and in the proper manner to reengage the snailcam at the end of the signal. The ratchetwheel 14, is here shown as having a plurality of ratchet-teeth, each corresponding to one revolution of the signal-wheel so that the signal-train will come to rest in proper relative position of parts without regard to the number of times the box-number is sent at one operation of the signaling-mechanism.

The winding and setting-means for the signaling-mechanism, as here shown, comprises a winding pinion 30 secured to the shaft 13, and made integral with the ratchetwheel 14, which pinion is engaged by a toothed gear-wheel 31, loosely mounted on a shaft 32, and said wheel 31 bears'a pin 33, arranged for engagement with a notched disk 34, of semicircular form, which is secured to said shaft 32, and the hub of said disk 34 carries a pin 35, to which one end of a spring 36 is attached, the other end of said spring being attached to the frame. The winding-arm 38 is also secured to said shaft 32. The shaft 32, thus serves .as the winding-shaft, and it extends through the front supporting-plate, and the windingarm is arranged on the projecting portion of said shaft, in front of said plate. This winding-arm is movable manually through .a short arc, as indicated, from the position shown in Fig. 2 to the position shown in Fig. 3, and when so moved the shaft 32 and disk 34 are moved with it, and said disk 34, by engaging the pin 33, correspondingly rotates the toothed-gear 31 of the windingmechanism to wind the spring of the signaling-mechanism and turn the ratchetwheel 14 one or more teeth, thereby to hold the spring under an increased tension. hen the grasp of the winding-arm is released, assuming no means are provided for detaining it, the spring 36 attached to the disk 34, acts to return said disk and shaft 32 and winding-arm secured to said shaft 32 to their unwound position, as for instance, from the position shown in Fig. 3

to the position shown in Fig. 2. Said windingarm, shaft and disk thus serve as the winding-device. During this return movement of the winding-device the toothed-gear 31, and other component parts of the winding-mechanism remain in the position in which they are moved by the winding-device until subsequently restored by the train in running. Hence it will be observed that the winding-arm is returnable to unwound position independently, of the other component parts of the winding-mechanism.

The disk 34. is not only used for controlling the movement of the detaining-lever 26, but is also employed, in cooperation with the detaining-lever for locking the windingdevice from manual operation While the train is running and the signal is being sent, thereby to prevent said winding-device from being moved to interfere with the free and proper operation of the signa1ing-mechanism during such period of time. To accomplish these results the detaining-lever 26, as here shown, has a tooth so, which engages the circular edge-portion of the disk 34:, and rides over said edge-portion as the disk is rotated beneath it, as for instance, when winding the signaling-mechanism, as represented in Fig. 7, and during such time the outer end of the detaining-lever is held in position to engage the shoulder of the snail-cam to detain the signaling-mechanism, but upon return movement of said disk to position shown in Fig. 8, the notch or space thereof comes opposite said tooth, permitting the tooth to enter said notch or space and the detaining-lever thereby to be moved into the position shown in Fig. 8, whereupon the signaling-mechanism is released and permitted to operate and send its signal. At such time the face of the tooth 40 is in path of motion of the face of the notch in the disk and prevents manual operation of the winding-device. During the running of the train the toothed-gear 31, is returned to unwound position, whereupon its pin 33 engages the bevel-face of the tooth 40, of the detaining-lever and moves said tooth out of the notch or space, thereby unlocking the winding-device and returns the detaining-lever to detaining position for the train, where its outer end will be struck by the shoulder of the snail-cam 28, and thereby lock the train from further operation. The winding-device is 'then free to be operated for the purpose of winding the signaling-mechanism, thereby to set it again in condition to send its signal. The winding-device is arranged to be accessible for manual operation when the box-door is opened, .and when pulled down to wind the spring of the train the detaining-lever will, as described, be held in engaging position by the circular edge-portion of the disk until the pull is let go and the disk 3-1 carried by it has returned to the position shown in Fig. 8, and when arriving at this position the detaining-lever is permitted to move into disengaging-position, thereby to release the signaling-mechanism; hence the winding-device controls the detaining-lever. The winding-arm is thus non-interfering, in that it does not interfere with the operation of the signaling train while transmitting its signal, but while a non-interferin winding-arm or other actuator for the signaling-mechanism itself, is not new in the art, yet the particular construction here shown and its association with the detaining-lever is novel and possesses advantages on account of its simplicity, which is deemed of considerable importance.

The functions of the detaining-lever, winding-mechanism and windingdevice forming a part of said mechanism in so far as their association with each other is concerned, are therefore as follows :The detaining-lever is held in locking-position for the train by the winding-mechanism while the latter is in unwound position and subsequently by the winding-device while the winding-mechanism is being operated by the winding-device to wind the signaling-medianism and also by said winding-device while said device is subsequently being returned independently of the other component parts of the winding-mechanism, and said detaining-leveris then permitted to move into disengaging-position with the signaling train and when so moved it is disposed relative to the winding-device to hold said device from manual operation while the signal is sent and until the other component parts of the winding-mechanism return to unwound position, whereby the detaining-lever is then moved by said returning mechanism out of engagement with the winding-device and into the path of engagement with the signaling-mechanism.

The invention may be, and is here shown, as carried further, and provision made for holding the winding-device in its wound position and for subsequently releasing it, and when thus held in wound position the signaling-mechanism is set in condition to send its signal and is held in this condition until the winding-device is released, hence the winding-device and the elements directly associated with it and constituting the winding-mechanism, serve as, and constitute the signalsetting means for the signalingmechanism. As here shown there is pro vided for the winding-device a temporary holding-means which is arranged for operation when the box-door is open, and also a normal holding-means, which is controlled by the boX-door and which disengages the temporary holding-device and holds the winding-device when the box-door is closed. The temporary holding-means consists of a spring-latch 45, here shown as arranged on the outside of the face-plate 4:6, or cover of the inclosure for the train, or is otherwise supported, and which is arranged to engage the winding-arm when said arm is moved in a downward direction by hand to wind the train, thereby tohold said arm in wound position temporarily, or while the door is open. The door d8 of the outer box is hinged at the bottom so as to swing clownward when opened, and said door has arranged on its inner side a. projection 4L9, so disposed as to strike the end-portion of the spring-latch 45, and move said latch in ward, out of the path of engagement with the winding-arm when said door is closed. This projection 49 is soarranged that when thus moved inward it will occupy a position to itself enter the path of return movement of the winding-arm, so as to be engaged by and continue to hold said arm in wound position while the door is closed. When the door is swung outward and downward on its hinged connection, or otherwise opened, said projection 49 is removed from engagement with the winding-arm, and the winding-device is then permitted to return to unwound position to permit movement of the detaining-lever to release the train. The purpose of the spring-latch is to engage the winding-device when said device is moved downward by hand for the purpose of wind ing the train, and thereby setting the signal and to hold the winding-device in such position while the door is open, but when said door is closed said door acts to hold the winding-device in such position.

The winding-arm 38 has a broad fiat extension 50 arranged on it which is movable across the path of movement of the projection 49 on the door, said extension being of suitable dimensions to obstruct inward movement of said projection except when said winding-arm is in its winding-p osition, thereby preventing closing of the door until after the winding-arm has been moved into its winding-position.

The door 48 has a latch-member at its upper edge arranged for engagement with the inside edge of the door-opening, and said latclrmember is pivotally supported on the door at 52 and is arranged to be held in engaging-position by a. breakable element 55, such as a plate of glass which is supported on the front of the door. This latch-member has a spring-held detent 53, also pivoted at 52, for engagement with the inside rim at the upper edge of the door-opening and has a. forward extension 54, which extends through a hole in the box-door, which extension is provided with a. hook-formed end for engagement with the breakable-element to lock it in place when the door is shut and the pivoted spring-held detent 53, admits of the closing of the door and thereafter is moved into position to hold it closed by its spring 53. This detent 53 and its actuating-spring 53 lie in a recess of the latchmember between said member and its support 52, and one end of the spring bears against the detent 53 and the opposite end bears against the shoulder of a projection 5 T in the recess of and on the latch-member. An extension 53 is formed on the lower end of the detent, and it is normally pressed by this spring against the projection 54c and which acts as a stop for the forward motion of the detent.

Projecting from the outer side of the latchmember is a stud 5 F to which one end of an actuating-spring 54L is fastened the opposite end of said spring being secured to the door. This spring is for the purpose of pulling the latch-member downward carrying the detent 53 with it, out of engagement with the rim of the case to thus unlock and allow opening of the door, and the latchmember is held in its elevated position, in which its detent can engage with the rim of the box-case by the breakable-element. The breakable-element, as here shown consists of a plate 55 of glass arranged on the outside of the door, which is held in place by four shouldered supports or posts 56 arranged at the sides of the plate and a post 57 having a lip arranged to extend over the lower edge of the plate and the upper edge of said plate lies back of the hook-formed end-portion 54 of the latch-member and when thus held in place by its supports it in turn holds said latch-member in elevated position with its detent 53 in engagement with the inside rim of the case, thereby holding the door in closed position. The slot -18 in the door 4:8 and through which the outer end 5% of the latch-member projects is made long enough so that when the door is open the outer end of the latch-member may be raised to allow the glass to be put in place but this detent-member has a shoulder 54: just back of the door and which when the door is closed will prevent the latch from being raised to release the glass, as the rim of the case will then lie in the path of its upward movement. The latch-member is thus locked from being raised and the glass or breaking-piece locked from being removed except by breaking it while the door is closed. Upon breaking of the breakableplate the latch-member is permitted to be moved by its spring 54 to disengage the edge of the door-opening, and the door, be ing hinged at the bottom, with its center of gravity arranged on the outside of the hinge, and is permitted to swing downward by gravity. To positively insure such move ment, a flat spring tongue is arranged on the door at the bottom for engagement with the box at the edge of the door-opening, which acts to thrust the door open or to In order to test the circuit connections while the box is closed and signal set to know if the signaling-mechanism within the box can properly send its signal over such circuit a test-key is arranged in the box, as shown in Figs. 6 and 12, on the same insulating base 60, as are the circuit-terminals 61 and 62. This test-key is in series with the signaling-contacts 3 and 4, the circuit-com nections being from terminal 62 to springcontact 3, thence to contact 4, thence by wire to key-spring 63, thence through its contact to terminal 61. The key-spring extends be .yond this latter contact to be operated through an insulating pin 64:, in the keylever 65, pivoted at 66 on a key-stud 68 which extends through the cover 46 of the inner compartment on which the terminal block is mounted. The forward end of this stud is squared so that it may be slightly turned by a key inserted through a hole in the door of the outer case and thus cause opening and closing of the circuit through operation of the key-lever 65. The outer end of this key-lever encircles a stop stud or screw 67, whereby its motion is limited and the head of this screw prevents the keylever from being pressed backward. This box is sometimes arranged without the holding-spring a5, and its cooperating pin on the door, so that the breaking of the glass does not cause the signaling-mechanism to operate, but simply gives access to the pull which must then be manually operated to cause the signal to be sent, and the locking-devices prevent repeated operations of the pull or its manipulation in any manner to interfere in anyway with the proper running of the train while signaling, as already described. In the door of the box is a key-hole directly in line with the pivot of the pull, so that a watchmans key may be inserted to engage and wind the pull enough to cause the signaling-mechanism to operate for one round, there being a stop-post on the door which is struck by the winding-handle to prevent said handle being wound farther when the door is closed.

In this construction shown the winding mechanism in part consists of the ratchetwheel, the pinion fastened to and carried is to allow amovement of the winding-handle through a comparatively short are to wind the mechanism for several rounds, but these winding-gears can be omitted and the winding-handle mounted loosely on the ratchetshaft, as is sometimes done, and engaging a pin or stud directly carried by it, whereby it may be wound, but said winding-handle would then have to be moved through a greater are in winding the mechanism.

I claim 1. The combination of a signaling-mech anism, a detaining-lever therefor, a winding-mechanism for the signaling-mechanism having an independently movable windingdevice, said detaining-lever and windingmechanism each being arranged for cooperation with the other, the arrangement being such that the winding-mechanism holds the detainingdever in engaging-position while it is being operated to wind the signaling mechanism and the detaining-lever, while it is in disengaging-position and the signal is being sent, holds the independently movable winding-device, and holding-means arranged to hold the winding-device with the winding-mechanism wound, which, when operated, permits independent movement thereof, substantially as described.

2. The combination of a signaling-mechanism, a winding-mechanism for the signalingmechanism having an independently movable winding-device, a detaining-lever arranged, when in engaging-position, to hold the signaling-mechanism, and, when in disengagingposition, to hold the independently movable winding-device, and the winding-mechanism while in unwound position, being arranged to hold the detaining-lever in engaging-position, and to permit movement thereof into disengaging-position when moved into windingposition and the independently movable winding-device has been returned to unwound position, substantially as described.

3. The combination of a signaling-mechanism, a detaining-lever therefor, a windingmechanism for the signaling-mechanism having an independently movable windingdevice forming a part thereof, said detaining-lever and winding-mechanism each being arranged for coperation with the other, the arrangement being such that the winding-mechanism, while it is in unwound position, holds the detaining-lever in engagingpos1t1on and while it 1s being moved into winding-position and while the windingdevice is returning to unwound position independently of the other component parts of the winding-mechanism and permitting ,movement of said detaining-lever into disengaging-position with the train and into fengagement with the winding-device and {hold said winding-device after it has returned to unwound position and while the signal is being sent and until the other component parts of the winding-mechanism return to unwound position whereupon said detaining-lever is returned by said windingmechanism, to engaging-position to stop the signal mechanism, substantially as described.

4. The combination of a signaling-mechanism, a detaining-lever therefor, windingmeohanism for the signaling-mechanism having a winding-device, made independent of the other component parts of said winding-mechanism, permitting of an independent movement thereof relative thereto, said detaining-lever when in disengaging-position and the signaling-mechanism is operating to send its signal, being arranged to lock said winding-device, thereby to hold the winding-device during such time, said detaining-lever automatically disengaging the winding-device when returned to its engaging-position, and the signal is sent, and holding-means arranged to hold the winding-device with the winding-mechanism wound, which, when operated, permits independent movement thereof, s'ubstantially as described.

5. The combination of a signaling-mechanism, a detaining-lever therefor, windingmechanism for the signaling-mechanism having a winding-device made independent of the other component parts of said winding-mechanism, permitting of an independent movement thereof relative thereto, said detaining-lever and winding-device being arranged for engagement with each other in the different relative positions that they 00- cupy and whenever they so engage the detaining-lever is held in engaging-position by the winding-mechanism while the signalingmechanism is being wound and the independently movable winding-device is held by the detent-lever while the signalingmechanism is running, and holding-means arranged to hold the winding-device with the winding-mechanism wound, which, when operated, permits independent movement thereof, substantially as described.

6.- The combination of a signaling-mechanism, a detaining-lever therefor, winding.

,mechanism for the signaling-mechanism having a winding-device made independent of the other component parts of said winding-mechanism, permitting of an independent movement thereof relative thereto, said detaining-lever and winding-device being arranged for engagement with each other in the different relative positions that they 00- cupy whereby the detaining-lever is held in engaging-position by the winding-mechanism while the signaling-mechanism is being wound and the winding-device is held by the detaining-lever while the signaling mechanism is running, means operated by the winding-mechanism for returning the detaining-lever to engaging-position, and

holding-means arranged to hold the winding-device with the winding-mechanism wound, which, when operated, permits independent movement thereof, substantially as described.

7. The combination of a signaling-mechanism, a detaining-lever therefor, windingmechanism for the signaling-mechanism having a winding-device made independent of the other component parts of said winding-mechanism, permitting of an independent movement thereof relative thereto, said detaining-lever and winding-device each being arranged to hold the other in different positions that they occupy, means operated by the winding-mechanism for returning the detaining-lever to engaging-position for the train and unlocking-position for the winding-device, and holding-means arranged to hold the winding-device with the windingmechanism wound, which, when operated, permits independent movement thereof, substantially as described.

8. The combination of a signaling-mechanism, a detaining-lever therefor, winding mechanism for the signaling-mechanism having a winding-device made independent of the other component parts of said winding-mechanism, permitting of an independent movement thereof relative thereto, said winding-mechanism being arranged for operation by the signaling-mechanism to return the detaining-lever to engaging-position at the end of a signal and to hold it in such position while the winding-mechanism is being operated to wind the signalingmechanism and said detaining-lever being arranged to hold the winding-device while the signaling-mechanism is running, and holding-means arranged to hold the windingdevice with the winding-mechanism wound, which, when operated, permits independent movement thereof, substantially as described.

9. The combination of a signaling-mechanism, winding and setting-means therefor, including an independently movable winding-device for the winding-mechanism, and a detaining-lever, said detaining-lever being held by the winding-device in position to hold the signaling-mechanism when set to send its signal and arranged to hold the winding-device when the signaling-mechanism is sending its signal, and holdingmeans arranged to hold the winding-device with the detaining-lever in engaging posi- 'tion with the signaling-mechanism, which when operated permits independent movement of the winding-device to allow the de taining-lever to release the signaling-mechanism.

,10. The combination of a signaling-mechanism, a detaining-lever therefor, winding and setting-means for said signaling-mechanism having a winding-arm arranged 011 one of the shafts thereof and having a notched disk arranged for engagement with a pin on a wheel of said means, thereby to operate said means when moved in one direction and to return independently thereof, said detaining-lever having a projection arranged to enter the notch of said disk when moved into disengaging-position, thereby to detain the winding-arm and to be moved out of engagement therewith by the pin on said wheel upon the return of said winding-means, substantially as described.

11. The combination of a signaling-mechanism, winding and setting-means therefor, holding-means arranged to hold said winding and setting-means in wound condition with the signal set, a self-opening box-door with which said holding-means is associated, means to hold said door in closed position involving a breakable element which when broken permits said door to open and the signal to be sent, substantially as described.

12. The combination of a signaling-mechanism having means arranged to set it in condition to send its signal, a self-opening box having means thereon arranged to engage the setting-means for the signalingmechanism, and hold it with its signal set when said door is closed and to disengage said setting-means and permit automatic sending of the signal upon opening said door, detaining-means for said door and a breakable element arranged to hold said detaining-means in detaining position, whereby upon breaking said element the door is automatically opened and the signal is automatically sent, substantially as described.

13. The combination of a signaling-mechanism, winding and setting-means therefor, a self-opening box-door having means thereon arranged to engage the winding and setting-means and hold it with the signal set when said door is closed and to disengage said winding and setting-means and permit automatic sending of the signal upon opening said door, detaining-means for said door and a breakable-element arranged to hold said detaining-means in detaining-position, substantially as described.

14. The combination of a signaling-mechanism, means involving a winding-arm arranged to wind and set itin condition to send its signal, a self-opening box-door having means thereon arranged to engage the winding-arm and hold it with the signalingmechanism set when said door is closed and to disengage said winding-arm and permit automatic sending of the signal upon opening of the door, detainingmeans for said door and a breakable-element arranged to hold said detaining-means in detainingposition, whereby upon breaking said element the door is automatically opened and the signal sent, substantially as described.

15. The combination of a signaling-mechanism, winding and setting-means therefor, temporary holding-means arranged to hold said winding and setting-means in wound condition with the signal set, a self-opening box-door arranged to disengage said temporary holding-means when the door is closed and permanent holding-means associated with said boX-door arranged to hold said winding and setting-means when disengaged from said temporary holding-means,

. and to hold said door in closed position involving a breakable-element which when broken permits said door to open and the signal to be sent, substantially as described.

16. The combination of a signaling-mechanism, winding and setting-means therefor, temporary holding-means arranged to hold said winding and settinganeans in wound condition with the signal set, a self-opening box-door having means thereon arranged to disengage said temporary holding-means when the door is closed and to engage and to, hold said winding and settingnneanswhen the box-door is closed, detainingmeans for said door and a breakable-element arranged to hold said detainingmeans in detaining position, substantially as described.

18. The combination of a signaling-mechanism winding and setting-means therefor, a latch arranged to hold the winding and setting-means in wound condition with the signal set into engagement with which said winding and setting-means is moved by hand, while the box-door is open, a selfopening box-door, and means associated therewith arranged to engage said latch upon closing of the door, and move it to disengage the winding and setting-means and also to engage the disengaged winding and setting-means and hold it while the box-door is closed, and means arranged to hold the box-door closed involving a breakable-element, which when broken permits said door to open and the signal to be sent, substantially as described.

19. The combination of a signaling-mech anism, winding and settingmeans therefor, a latch arranged to hold the winding and settinganeans with the signal set into engagement with which said winding and setting-means is moved by hand, while the box-door is open, a self-opening box-door having a projection arranged to engage said latch and move it to disengage the winding and setting-means and to subsequently engage said winding and setting-means and hold the same while the box-door is closed, detaining-means for the box-door and a breakable-plate arranged on the box-door to hold said detaining-means in detainingposition, substantially as described.

20. The combination of a signaling-mechanism having a winding-arm arranged to wind it and thereby set it in condition to send its signal, a self-opening door having means thereon arranged to engage and hold said arm with the signaling mechanism wound when said door is closed and to disengage said arm and permit automatic sending of the signal when said door is open, detaining-means for said door and a breakable-element arranged on the door to hold said detaining-means in detaining position, whereby upon breaking said element the door is permitted to open automatically and the signal to be automatically sent, substantially as described.

21. The combination of a signaling-mechanism having a winding-arm arranged to wind it and thereby set it in condition to send its signal, a latch arranged to engage said arm when the signaling-mechanism is wound, a self-opening door having a projection thereon arranged to engage said latch and move it upon closing the door to disengage said winding-arm, said projection being arranged to engage said winding-arm after it has disengaged the latch, whereby the signaling-mechanism is held set while the box-door is closed, and means arranged to hold the door inclosed position involving a breakable-element which when broken permits the door toopen, substantially as described.

22. A self-opening door for a signal-box, a latch-member pivotally arranged on the door having an inner latch-formed end arranged for engagement with a boss at the edge of the door-opening and having an outer latch-formed end arranged for engagement with a breakable-plate, and a breakable-plate arranged to engage and hold the latch-member in engaging-position, which when broken permits said latch-member to swing on its pivot into disengaging-position whereupon the door is permitted to open, substantially as described.

23. A self-opening door for a signal-box having a slot, a latch-member on the door having a latch-formed end-portionextended through said slot, a breakable-plate ar ranged on the front of the door in engagement with said latch-formed end-portion, which holds said latch-member in engagingposition and which when broken permits movement of said latch-member into disengaging-position, a plurality of shouldered posts arranged on the front of the door at the sides of said plate, and a post having a lip, which lip extends over the edge of said plate at a point opposite the latch-member, substantially as described.

24. The combination of a signal formulating mechanism, a reciprocating windingmechanism therefor movable in one direction to wind the driving-spring therefor, and moved in the opposite direction by the signaling train in running to send the signal, a reciprocating winding-device for manually operating the winding-mechanism to wind the driving-spring and movable in dependently in the opposite direction when free to do so, a detaining-lever for the signaling-mechanism biased to move to unlocking position and positively moved to locking-position by the winding-mechanism in being driven to unwound position, said winding-device having an engaging-portion for holding said lever in its locking-position when the winding-device is manually moved to wind the mechanism and held in such position thereby until said windingdevice returns to its unwound position, but released thereby when the winding-device does so return and when so released after the signaling-mechanism is wound to move to unlocking-position to release the signaling train if it has been wound for one or more rounds and when so moved to release the signaling-mechanism to in turn automatically lock the independently movable winding-device until after the complete signal for which the mechanism had been wound has been sent, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FREDERICK W. COLE.

\Vitnesses B. J. NOYES, H. B. DAVIS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

